As the blistering final days of summer give way to crisp September mornings on the hilltop, Blair Academy is excited to welcome the Class of 2027 to campus. A talented cohort of gifted scientists, writers, artists, athletes and more will soon fill the halls of Clinton and begin the transformative journey that connects generations of Bucs across continents. After receiving a record-breaking 1,600 applications during the latest admission cycle—dropping the acceptance rate to an all-time low of 14 percent—Blair’s new class has proven to be the most competitive yet and embodies what it means to be “all in” for this experience.

“As the admission team traveled around the world this year to bring the best of what Blair has to offer to prospective families and meet future Buccaneers, we heard from so many who share our vision for the boarding school experience,” Dean of Enrollment Teddy Wenner ’96 said. “Our mission—to balance a warm and supportive environment with superior academic opportunities—resonates with so many students and parents, and it is what continues to make Blair a top choice among the nation’s boarding schools.”

The Class of 2027 will join a diverse community on the hilltop, reflective of the world they will enter upon graduating. Blair students represent 23 countries and 28 states, with 17 percent international students and approximately 36 percent of students and families receiving financial aid in an effort to support the best and brightest applicants of all socioeconomic backgrounds at Blair. “It is hard to believe that 2022-2023 was our first year back to a completely normal admission cycle in four years,” Mr. Wenner reflected. “To finally have a summer and fall without the presence of COVID restrictions was a welcome change. Families came to campus free of masks, distancing or any other precautions that were part of our lives for too long.”

Throughout the admission cycle, the admission team was excited to share with prospective students the campus enhancements that the Class of 2027 will benefit from this year:The Romano Dining Hall underwent renovations this summer to elevate the on-campus dining experience and provide easier access to healthy dining options. Our state-of-the-art fitness center in Hardwick Hall was revamped with updated equipment to enhance team and individual athletic performances. In the spring, construction is set to begin on the new Center for Health and Well-Being, which will mark an additional step in the mission of caring for our students as a whole and promoting health and wellness across the community.

“Throughout this year, we’ve learned that support for adolescent physical, mental, spiritual and emotional health continues to be at the forefront of what parents are looking for. Now, more than ever, we are helping students acquire the skills that support their well-being through a wide range of offerings,” Mr. Wenner explained. “The new center will allow us to educate our community about the importance of physical and mental well-being, as well as nutrition, mindfulness and spiritual health in one central location.”
 
“I am incredibly excited about our incoming class and what they will bring to the Blair community,” Mr. Wenner stated. “Our School is built upon an incredible culture of warmth and rigor, and we pride ourselves on filling our classrooms and pathways with kind, caring, bright and talented students and the Class of 2027 certainly carries on this tradition.